The Pac-10 attempted to add half the Big XII to their conference, swung and missed, and instead added Utah and Colorado. If that craziness wasn't enough, two of the top Pac-10 programs were either hit by NCAA sanctions or lost key players to suspension or kicked off the team.
Oregon first suspended All-American quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and then eventually kicked Masoli off the team after another arrest. Masoli of course eventually transferred to Ole Miss. While Oregon are still the favorites to win their conference, they lost a lot in Masoli. Masoli's athleticism was the perfect fit for that Oregon Spread-Option offense. Their offense no matter how talent it is will take a hit without Masoli.
Chip Kelly will announce between Nate Costa and Darron Thomas who will be the starting quarterback on Saturday. No matter who the quarterback is for Oregon, they still have an loaded offense. LaMichael James returns after an outstanding Freshman season and he gets to run the ball behind an offensive line that returns every starter from last season's Rose Bowl team. The defense returns eight starters all of them with great speed. Despite the loss of Masoli, Oregon is still a very talented team just not a National Championship caliber of a team.
USC had the craziest off-season out of all the teams in college football. Pete Carroll finally took an NFL job. Lane Kiffin was hired which lead to controversy itself because he had only coached at Tennessee for one year. Then everything hit the wall. The NCAA pummeled USC with sanctions due to the Reggie Bush case. The NCAA banned USC from postseason play for two years and took away multiple scholarships.
Even with all of this happening to USC during the off-season, I still like them to win the Pac-10. Bill Simmons has a wonderful theory called the "Eff You Theory." When everyone counts a team out, they go into an anger stage and just beat the crap out of everyone. That will be USC this season. Despite losing scholarships, they're still a talented team and right now they're angry. They're angry because the NCAA punished them for something that happened when most of the players were in high school. They'll destroy all the Pac-10 competition, win the conference, and have an evil smirk on their faces as some embarrassed Pac-10 team plays in the Rose Bowl despite not winning the conference. The only thing stopping USC from accomplishing this is injuries.
Team That Will Surprise, California: Cal seems to play better when everything is against them. And right now everyone is saying Cal is a mediocre team in the Pac-10. Cal though returns a veteran offense. Even though they lost Jahvid Best, they still have Shane Vereen who will fill in nicely for Best. The question for Cal will be how Kevin Riley preforms. Riley has never been consistent while at Quarterback for Cal. He has good games, he has bad games. Cal will go as far as Riley takes them.
Team That Will Disappoint, Washington: Washington is the Pac-10 team that is receiving abnormal hype this year. Jake Locker may be a great quarterback and future number one pick, but there is too much going against Washington this season. Their defense last year gave up 30 or more points in half of their games and that defense only returns five starters. The schedule is also brutal with non-conference games at BYU and against Nebraska with Pac-10 road games at USC, Arizona, and Oregon.
Player of the Year, Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State: The little big man is the biggest offensive threat in the Pac-10. Rodgers has rushed for over 1,200 yards in his first years and last year caught over 70 passes. With Oregon State breaking in a new quarterback, Rodgers will get the ball a lot.
Game of the Year, Oregon at Oregon State, Dec. 4: One of the most underrated rivalry games in college football that has actually decided the Rose Bowl participant the past two years. Oregon State has been on the losing end of both those games being shut out of the Rose Bowl for the past two seasons. If Oregon State can get past their tough early schedule we could once again see this game decide which Pac-10 team will go to the Rose Bowl.
I like Oregon State to win the Pac-10 this year.
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